Two tall bare winter trees standing behind the roofline of a white rendered row of houses — Two tall bare trees rising above a row of houses

Climber high in a tall bare tree above garden fences and a shed in blue sky — Climber part-way up a tall tree with the top already removed

Climber on ropes at the top of a cut tree stem with logs lying in the garden below — Climber working near the top of the stem, cut logs on the ground

This Hall Green job involved a tall, slender tree standing close to fences, a garden building and neighbouring houses. With so little room to drop it whole, we climbed it and took it down in sections, working from the top. The photos here were taken in winter, so the branches are bare and the structure of the tree is easy to see.

Why a tall tree is taken down in sections

When a tree stands this close to boundaries and roofs, there is nowhere safe to let it fall in one piece. The usual approach is for a climber to ascend, cut the top away first and lower or drop each piece in a controlled way, then work downwards. It keeps the cutting predictable and protects the fences and buildings around the base.

What the photos show

The first photo shows a pair of tall trees rising above a row of houses, one with solar panels on the roof. The later photos show a climber high in the tree on ropes, with the upper stem already cut back to a bare pole. Logs and cut timber lie in the garden below, so this is the job part-way through rather than finished.

Before work like this, it is worth checking with the council whether a tree preservation order or conservation area applies, and letting neighbours know when the work is due. Tall trees close to roofs and solar panels also call for careful planning of where each piece will go. The timber and brash are cleared away once the work is done.